Now that we’re Netflix subscribers, the first show Jaclyn and I have jumped into is The Crown. The show has been a tremendous breath of fresh air, bringing history to the forefront and eschewing all the endless political talking points found in other TV series.
The Crown has ignited an immense curiosity as to how the British monarchy operates. How does the monarchy generate revenue? Who pays the royal family’s expenses? And what does the Queen actually do on a daily basis? The answers to these questions, as I’ve found, are all quite fascinating.
The biggest curiosity of all is Queen Elizabeth II’s lineage. Where did she come from? How far back can she trace her ancestry? Where did the Windsor name come from?
Turns out, she is the 32nd great-granddaughter of Alfred the Great, who became the first King of England in 849 AD.
Talk about a family tree.